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Report: Petersfield Town 1-7 Farnborough

Boro’ hit top form against The Rams.

Unable to field any loan players in this Hampshire Senior Cup game, Boro’, nevertheless, took the field with a similar side to the one which triumphed at Sholing on Saturday.

West replaced Barnes in goal, with Fearn, Brice and Bennett in the starting lineup and Darryl Siaw the sole occupier of the bench.

Boro’ got the game underway on a cold, windy evening, on a pitch which appeared very bobbly, with quite long grass. Had the game been Cricket, no doubt Lloyd Foot would have called for a heavy roller.

The Rams were first to create a chance on goal when Essai shot high and wide from the right side of the area. Louie Theophanous was first to show for the Boro’, winning a corner on the right and then attempting a looping shot which was headed clear.

Now into their stride, Boro’ were enjoying a lot of possession and their passing and approach work was much better. Shortt, in the Rams goal, did well to deny Bennett, but a minute later, with 15 minutes gone, Culley latched on to the rebound following another Bennett shot was blocked and coolly slotted home from just inside the box. Petersfield Town 0-1 Farnborough.

Page was working well and having won a corner on the right, he then headed just over from a Foot free kick. The home side mounted a rare attack which saw Hunt bring a good save from West who tipped his strong shot over for a corner.

When another shot looked to be straight forward for West, the keeper spilled the ball allowing Richardson to tap home the equaliser on 22 minutes. Petersfield Town 1-1 Farnborough.

Boro’ changed up a gear and were on the attack for most of the remainder of the half. Howes was booked for a foul on Page and the Boro’ free kick led to Theophanous going narrowly wide of the post, but such was their superiority, it was clearly only a matter of time before they scored again.

Following a neat move down the left, Culley weaved through and calmly restored Boro’s lead on 35 minutes. Petersfield Town 1-2 Farnborough.

Recent signing Duncan Culley netted his third Boro’ goal in two games

Continuing to attack, a Lloyd Foot free kick was too high, but composing good work on the left, Harry Grant rattled in the third on 42 minutes and the score remained 1-3 until half time.

Half Time: Petersfield Town 1-3 Farnborough.

The home side played some good football at times, but apart from drawing level at 1 – 1, had no answer for a determined Boro’ side who were in control for most of the half.

The home side kicked off the second period at 8.45 and were soon on the back foot again as Boro’ carried on in similar vein to that which had seen them end the first 45 minutes comfortably ahead.

Four minutes was all the time needed to increase their lead with Phil Page making it 1 – 4 with a good finish. Petersfield Town 1-4 Farnborough.

Boro’ were really playing well, with some neat passing and everyone working for each other and turning defence into attack almost at will. Duncan Culley had another attempt which was just too high and a dangerous looking cross from Page was punched clear by Shortt.

Following a corner, Dan Bennett fired in a cracking shot from the edge of the area for his second and Boro’s fifth on 60 minutes. Petersfield Town 1-5 Farnborough.

Culley, who had received a knock, was replaced by Darryl Siaw who assumed his usual position allowing Fearn to push further forward.

Ollie Treacher and Ashley Howes tussled for a ball near to half way and both tumbled over the touchline and fell in a heap. Howes, who was on a yellow card, was clearly seen to kick Treacher who retaliated by grabbing him and attempting to haul him to his feet.

With players from both sides quickly gathering round, Referee, Aaron Moody, took a while to restore order. Then without consulting his assistant, he exchanged a few words with Treacher before brandishing a straight red. He then showed Howes a second yellow, followed by a red. Even allowing for the fact that he retaliated, I think Treacher was treated harshly as Howes kicked him quite deliberately and, in truth, had pushed his luck on several occasions since his earlier booking.

The game continued with both teams a man short and Boro’ continuing to press forward. When they were awarded a free on the edge of the area, Phil Page stepped up and hit a great shot over the wall and into the top left corner on 70 minutes.

Pagey’s second, another good move involving Harry Grant, Louie Theophanous and Darryl Siaw, led to a corner on the right which Page controlled neatly before completing a well deserved hat trick. Petersfield Town 1-7 Farnborough.

The remaining time saw Ram’s skipper, Warren Hunt, send a shot well over the bar. The Ram’s keeper Shortt, then blocked a shot from Theophanous and Page bursting through again to win a corner, but there was no further change to the scoreline.

Full Time: Petersfield Town 1-7 Farnborough

Although pretty much one way traffic for most of the game, the home side never stopped trying even if they were at times rather robust in their challenges.

The best display by Boro’ in a very long time with much improved teamwork and no shortage of effort with every single man putting in a full shift. The “work in progress” has without doubt progressed.